Closure for tubes



Aug. 24 1926.

H. B. BALL CLOSURE FOR TUBE S Filed March 25, 1926 @v'?. 3 egg. A

INVENTOR g wyfi 342K A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

nann B. BALL, or axnon, onxo.

CLOSURE FOR TUBES.

Application filed March as, 1926. serial m. 87,888.

This invention relates to new and novel improvements in containers andwhile applicable to containers of various forms, it 1s particularlyadapted for use to provide a closure for collapsible tubes as areordinarily employed to hold tooth paste and the like.

Objects of the invention are to provide a container having a closuredevice of attractive appearance and of simple, durable construction,which may be manufactured at a low cost and which may be quickly andconveniently operated to open or close the container.

A further object is to provide a collapsible tube having a dischargespout provided with a head and provided with a cupped cap hin ed forswinging movement to and from said spout, whereby the same will bedistorted during the opening or closing movement and may be forced overthe spout to securely seal the discharge opening therein.

The above objects are accomplished and additional ends are attained bythe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein I haveillustrated the invention as ap lied to a collapsible paste tube, itbeing un erstood that the invention is capable of various adaptationsand that changes and modifications may be made or resort had tosubstitutions which come within the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

In the drawings like characters of reference are employed to designatelike parts as the same appear in any of the several views and in whichFigure 1 is a side elevational View showing a collapsible paste tubeconstructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a central, vertical, sectional view of the upper portion ofsaid tube showing the same with the closure cap in an open position,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the closure cap in a closed position,

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view somewhat enlarged showing theclosure cap in a partly closed position.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the top portion of a tube showing thesame with the cap removed.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the invention with referenceto the particular adaptation thereof shown in the drawing, the numeral 5is used to denote the main body of'a collapsible container. Thecontainer is provided -with a conical end wall 6. The end wall 6 isprovided with a centrally positioned dischargespout 7 having a dischargeopening 8. The discharge spout 7 is provided at the outer end thereofwith an annular flange of rounded cross section, thus forming a head 9.The numeral 10 denotes a lug which projects upwardly from the outer faceof the wall 6 and which extends into the spout 7, the same terminat ingat a oint immediately below the head 9. The ug 10 is provided on theupper and outer face thereof with a centrally positioned vertical slot11.

The numeral 12 denotes a cap which corresponds to a portion of a hollowsphere; the cavity of said cap has its largest diameter at a point inclose spaced relation to the mouth thereof, the mouth being slightlysmaller for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The cap isprovided with an integrally formed fin 14 which projects outwardly anddownwardly therefrom, the lower end thereof being received in the slot11 in which it is hingedly secured by means of the pin 15 which 1ssecured in a suitable bore extending through said lug and through saidfin. The numeral 17 denotes a packing which is preferably composed ofcork, but which may be formed of any suitable material and which issecured in the cavity 16 of the cap. The cap is provided on the upperend thereof with an upwardly projecting portion 18 which may be engagedby the thumb or finger for opening or closing the same. As seen inFigure 2 and Figure 3, the cap may be swung on the pin 15 whereby itwill engage the uppervedge of the head 9 on the side opposite the lug10. As this portion of the head is in the path of the outer edge of thecap, as it is swung on said pivot, it is necessary to apply pressure todistort the cap and force it downwardly upon said head. The capcorresponds in shape to a portion of a hollow sphere slightly largerthan a hemisphere and having its greatest diameter at a point spacedinwardly from the mouth thereof. The cap may be forced into a closedposition over the head 9 by a swinging movement on the pin 15. The edgeof the cap nearest to the hinge is positioned below the greatestdiameter of the head. As the cap is forcedintoposition the packing 17iscompressed; thus closin the ischarge opening 8. When in a closeposition, t e greatest diameter of the head 9 may be positioned in thegreatest diameter of the cap 12 and the mouth of the cap opposite thehinge will impinge the under surface of the head 9 thereby holding thecap firmly in position, with the acking 17 compressed against the outerend of the spout 7.

Attention is called to the dotted line B-'-B whichindicates the path ofthe cap 12. It will be seen that the cap can; be forced over the head 9and that the cap will engage the head andhold the same in a closedposition.

To open the tube, it is held'in one hand and the thumb is placed againstthe extension 18 on the cap 12. Pressure is applied, thus moving the capon the hinge and forcing the mouth of the cap in a swinging ath fromsaid head 9. The cap 12 is provlded at the mouth end thereof with anannular, outwardly projecting bead 19, which is formed thereon toreinforce the cap at its area of greatest distortion.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In acontainer, a tubular body, an end wall, a discharge spout pro'ectingcoaxially therefrom, a. head of roun ed cross section on the end of saidspout, a lug formed integral with said end wall and spout, said lugprovided on the upper face thereof with' a vertical slot, a capcomprising a portion of a hollow sphere, a fin projecting outwardly anddownwardly from said cap, the

said slot and"bei-ng pivotally connected to said lug at a point belowsaid head. In,a collapsible tube, an end wall, a discharge spoutprojectin coaxially therefrom, a head of rounde said discharge spout, acap adapted to receive said head, a lug formed integral with said endwall and spout and projecting upwardly from the end wall to .a pointimmediately below said head, a fin formed integral with saidcap, saidfin hingedly connected to said lug at a point below said head, wherebythe cap when swung to a closed position will engage said head and beheld in a closed position by its inherent resistance to distortion.

3. In a collapsible tube, a head on said discharge s ed to receive saidhead, a wardly and downwardly from said cap, packing in said cap, abracing lu formed integral with said spout and exten ing into the endwall of the tube, said lug projecting upwardly from the end wall to apoint immediately below said head, said fin hingedly connected to saidlug, the portion of the cap opposite said fin arranged to en age saidhead and be distorted thereby uring an opening or closing movementthereof, the cap when forced to a closed position comlower end ,1of.said fin being positioned in a discharge s out, out, a cap a aptnprojecting outcross section onpressing said packing over the end of saidspout, the cap being held in said closed position by its inherentresistence to distortion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

HENRY B. BALL.

